ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has intensified discussions with coalition partners as the federal government prepares to introduce the 27th Constitutional Amendment, following last year’s 26th Amendment.
On November 3, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari confirmed that a PML-N delegation, led by PM Shehbaz, approached his party to secure support for the proposed amendment. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar later assured parliament that the proposals would undergo full debate before being sent to a committee.
In Islamabad, PM Shehbaz met delegations from MQM-P, PML-Q, and IPP. During talks with the seven-member MQM-P delegation, the prime minister pledged to support their local government proposals within the 27th Amendment framework. Meanwhile, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), represented by Federal Minister Khalid Hussain Magsi and Senator Manzoor Kakar, advocated for greater representation for Balochistan in both provincial and national assemblies.
Other political figures, including PML-Z chief Ijaz-ul-Haq and National Party MNA Mir Pullain Baloch, also discussed the amendment with the prime minister.
The current draft includes proposals to create a Constitutional Court, revise Article 243 regarding the armed forces, appoint executive magistrates, transfer judges, alter provincial shares in the NFC Award, bring education and population planning under federal control, and make appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
However, the PTI has rejected the draft, warning that it may threaten judicial independence and provincial autonomy. Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser cautioned that changes to the NFC Award could destabilize the nation and opposed the Constitutional Court proposal. The party had also legally challenged the 26th Amendment.
Government Support in Parliament:
The PML-N-led coalition holds 237 seats in the National Assembly, surpassing the 224 votes needed for a constitutional amendment. The coalition includes 125 PML-N, 74 PPP, 22 MQM-P, five PML-Q, four IPP, and one each from PML-Zia, BAP, and the National Party, along with four independents. In the Senate, the alliance has 61 votes, just shy of the 64 required for approval.
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